Adak (IPA pronunciation: ['eɪdæk]), formerly Adak Station, is a city in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 316. A State of Alaska demographer in 2004 estimated
the population at 69. It is the westernmost town in the United States and the southernmost
city in Alaska.[1] (See
Extreme points of the United States.) There are no radio stations in
Adak and no stations even 200 Miles away. People must relay on satellite service for ANY radio station.
Location and climate
Adak is located at 51.872° North, 176.636° West (Sec. 10, T096S, R195W, Seward Meridian).1 Adak is located in the Aleutian Islands
Recording District, and the 3rd Judicial District.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 329.8
km² (127.3 mi²). 317 km² (122.4 mi²) of it is land
and 12.8 km² (4.9 mi²) of it (3.87%) is water.
Adak is located on Kuluk Bay on Adak Island in the
Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian
Islands. It lies 1,300 miles southwest of Anchorage and 350 miles west of Dutch
Harbor, near the Russian end of the arc that makes up this volcanic island chain. Flight time to Anchorage is four hours
or longer depending on weather. Adak is the southern-most community in Alaska and on the same latitude as Vancouver Island in
Canada.
Adak lies in the maritime climate zone, characterized by persistently overcast skies,
moderated temperatures, high winds, and frequent cyclonic storms. Winter squalls produce wind gusts in excess of 100 knots.
During the summer, extensive fog forms over the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Average temperatures range from 20 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but wind chill factors can be
severe. Total precipitation is 64 inches annually, with an average accumulated snowfall of 100 inches, falling primarily on the
upper reaches of the volcanoes.
History and culture
The Aleutian Islands were historically occupied by the Unanga more commonly known now as the
Aleuts. The once heavily-populated island was eventually abandoned in the early 1800s as the Aleutian Island hunters followed the
Russian fur trade eastward, and famine set in on the Andreanof Island group. However, they continued to actively hunt and fish
around the island over the years, until World War II broke out. Adak Army installations
allowed U.S. forces to mount a successful offensive against the Japanese-held islands of
Kiska and Attu. After the war, Adak was developed as a naval
air station, playing an important role during the Cold War as a submarine surveillance center.
Large earthquakes rocked the island in 1957, 1964 and 1977.
At its peak, the station housed over 6,000 naval and Coast Guard personnel and their families. In 1994, the base was
downsized, and both family housing and schools were closed. The station officially closed on March
31, 1997. The Aleut Corporation purchased
Adak's facilities under a land transfer agreement with the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Navy/Department of Defense. This
agreement was finalized in March, 2004. About 30 families with children relocated to Adak in September 1998, most of them Aleut
Corp. shareholders, and the former high school was reopened at that time as a K-12 institution. The community incorporated as a
second-class city in April 2001. Substantially all of the infrastructure and faciltities on Adak are owned by Aleut Corporation,
who is currently developing Adak as a commercial center via their subsidiary companies. For example, properties in active use are
leased by Adak Commercial Properties, LLC.
Since World War II, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard developed outstanding facilities and recreation opportunities at Adak. At
its peak, Adak had a college, movie theater, roller skating rink, swimming pool, ski lodge, bowling alleys, skeet range, auto
hobby shop, photo lab, and racquetball and tennis courts. A new $18-million hospital was built in 1990, just seven years prior to
the closure of the station. By March 2003, six years after the closure of the station, most of these facilities had closed. For a
time, Adak became a virtual ghost town, with its buildings showing little sign of wear or disuse. In recent years, preventing
trespassing in and vandalism of the unoccupied facilities has become an ongoing struggle for the Aleut Corp. The harsh Aleutian
wind and weather has also played a part, all but destroying the majority of facilities remaining on Adak that are not in active
use.
Former demographics (census 2000)
A State of Alaska demographer in 2004 estimated the population at 69.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 316 people, 159 households, and 61 families residing in the
city. The population density was 1.0/km² (2.6/mi²). There were 884 housing units at
an average density of 2.8/km² (7.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.68% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 35.13% Native American, 9.81% Asian, 1.90% Pacific Islander, and 2.22% from two or more races. 5.06% of the
population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 159 households out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.9% were married couples living together, 2.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.6% were
non-families. 46.5% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 44.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from
45 to 64, and 1.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 184.7 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 188.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,727, and the median income for a family was $53,889. Males had a median
income of $46,429 versus $35,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$31,747. About 3.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty
line, none of whom were under the age of eighteen or over the age of sixty-five.
During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 884, and vacant housing units numbered 725. Vacant housing units
used only seasonally numbered 7. 200 residents were shown as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 7.55 percent,
although 16.32 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $52,727, per capita income was
$31,747, and 4.66 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.
Utilities, schools and health care
Water is derived from Lake Bonnie Rose, Lake De Marie, and Nurses Creek, stored in seven water tanks throughout the community,
and piped to facilities and housing units. The wastewater treatment system discharges through a marine outfall line to Kuluk Bay.
The permitted landfill, Roberts Landfill, is a Class 2 with balefill. Electricity is provided by City of Adak. There is one
school located in the community, attended by 18 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Adak Medical Clinic. Adak
Medical Center is a qualified Emergency Care Center and Primary Health Care facility. The clinic is staffed by a physician's
assistant and provides emergency care, family practice and referral services. Lab, pharmacy, and public health services are
available. Adak is classified as an isolated town/sub-regional center, located in EMS Region 2H in the Aleutian/Pribilof Region.
Emergency Services have coastal and airport access to Adak. Auxiliary health care is provided by Adak Volunteer Fire
Department/EMS.
Facilities, economy and transportation
A land exchange between Aleut Corp., the U.S. Navy, and the Department of the Interior transferred most of the former naval facilities to
the Aleut Corp in March of 2004. A portion of the island remains within the National Maritime National
Wildlife Refuge, managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service. The U.S Navy retains part of the north end of Adak Island (Parcel 4) and does annual sweeps of the Lake Andrew
Seawall for unexploded ordnance. Their website lists the Institutional Controls in place for all of Adak as part of the land
exchange or Interim Conveyance. The Navy provides the trail maps as part of the ordnance awareness information required to be
shown to all Adak residents and visitors. Adak currently provides a fueling port and crew transfer facility for a combination of
Seattle and Alaskan based fishing fleet — an airport, docks, housing facilities, restaurant,
grocery, and ship supply store are available. Adak Fisheries, LLC., an employer of a large seasonal staff, processes Pacific cod,
pollock, mackerel, halibut, snow and king crabs. Four residents hold commercial fishing permits, primarily for groundfish.
However, commercial fishing vessels based out of Seattle and other parts of Alaska provide most of the work for the fish plant by
regularly offloading their catch in Adak.
Because of its naval aviation past, Adak has an unusually large and sophisticated airport for the Aleutian Islands. The
airport is currently operated by the State of Alaska Department of Transportation. Complete with an Instrument Landing System,
Adak Airport has a control tower and two 200' wide asphalt paved runways at 19' elevation.
One runway measures 7,790' long while the other runway measures 7,605'. Alaska Airlines operates twice weekly passenger and cargo
jet service from Anchorage, usually with a stopover in King Salmon. At present,
flights operate each Sunday and Thursday (weather permitting). Occasionally, extra seasonal flights are operated to meet the
demand of the fishing season. Other facilities in Adak include three deep water docks and fueling facilities. The city has
requested funds to greatly expand the Sweeper Cove small boat harbor, including new breakwaters, a 315-foot dock and new moorage
floats (Attribution needed). There are approximately 16 miles of paved and primitive roads on Adak, all privately owned by
the Aleut Corporation.
Tourism
Land use permits are required for all non-residents visiting Aleut Corporation land. Permits can be obtained from the Aleut
Enterprise LLC office in Anchorage, or from the Harbormaster at the Port of Adak.
Aleutian Housing Authority (AHA) is the only provider of lodging on Adak, and offers both long-term and short-term
accommodations in former Naval officer housing. Housing units are heated, furnished, and include local telephone and cable TV
service. It is advisable to make reservations in advance.
The cabins once maintained within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge have fallen into disrepair and are unsafe to
occupy. The cabin at Three Arm Bay sits on an archaeological site that was transferred to the Aleut Corporation, and is no longer
available for rental to the general public.
Camping is possible without a permit on Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge lands, but is generally not recommended due
to the harsh climate. The wind on Adak is highly variable and often unpredictable. Gusts can exceed 100 knots or more (the record
speed is unknown because the wind ripped the ananometer off of the tower). During the calmer summer months, sustained wind speeds
average in the low double digits gusting to 50 knots or more.
Adak offers 16 miles of paved and gravel roads. These can be explored on foot, by bicycle, or by renting a truck. There is
only one vehicle rental business on Adak; ask for Will at the airport when you arrive and he'll rent you a pickup truck.
Hunting and fishing are bountiful sports in Adak. Hunters particularly prize Adak caribou, the largest of which can exceed 700
pounds. There is no bag limit for cows, but in 2007, the Board of Game passed new regulations for bulls. If you want to get to
the South end of the island where the majority of the caribou are there is currently only one licensed local boat charter service
- Homeward Bound Charters. Anglers can find large to enormous halibut in the Kagalaska Straits.
Hunters must possess an Alaska state hunting license and a harvest ticket for each animal taken. Non-residents of Alaska must
also possess the appropriate big game tag. Anglers require a sport fishing license. All areas of the island with roads are owned
by the Aleut Corporation, and a special permit is required for all non-residents accessing this private property. No ATVs are
permitted within the wildlife refuge and the Aleut Corporation only allows ATVs on the roads and trails - not on the tundra.
Under Alaska state law, wastage is illegal. Before taking any fish or game, please have a solid plan to either use the meat, ship
it home, or give it away.
Audubon enthusiasts generally do not consider Adak as exciting as Attu. That being said, the high winds are a blessing for
birders; many vagrants from Asia and elsewhere can be spotted. Indigenous (but often rare) shore birds abound, and eagles are
ubiquitous. Visitors not insistent upon scoring "First North America" sightings will find plenty of variety to enjoy.
Developed trails are limited and most are not maintained. It is possible to hike on the tundra, but visitors are advised both
to prepare for frequent weather changes and to never hike alone.
Nightlife and dining opportunities are not abundant on Adak. The Aleutian Sports Bar and Grill (aka ASBAG) is located in the
former VFW hall. In addition to a fully licensed bar, ASBAG offers pub fare. Across town, libations are also available from the
well-stocked liquor store. Bake and Tackle is located in the former high school cafeteria. They sell hot coffee, hot meals,
pizzas and box lunches along with groceries and sundries. A larger grocery store operates out of the former Housing Community
Center. In August, 2006 the bowling alley was being renovated in preparation for re-opening, although the current status of this
project is unknown.
Education
Adak is served by the Aleutian Region Schools.
The Adak School serves grades K-12.
Sources and notes
- ^ Attu Station, Alaska is
farther west but it is not a town.
External links
Coordinates:
51.872° N 176.636°
W
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